Dear North Andover Community,

Excitement and anticipation are in the air at this time of year, and I am filled with gratitude as I visit the classrooms, witness the hard work of our teachers, and the eagerness of students as they proudly display their work. During the upcoming break, I hope you have the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. 

As a reminder, December 23 is a half day for students, with the high school students being dismissed at 11:00 a.m., middle school students at 11:05 a.m., elementary students at 11:50 a.m., and ABECC students at 12:00 noon. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

The new year promises to be filled with positive changes for the district as we see the work in planning for the Kittredge and NAMS building projects coming to fruition. The NAMS School Building Committee has already begun meeting, and the Kittredge School Building Committee will be meeting shortly. If the funds are approved at this May’s Town Meeting, construction on the Middle School project should begin in August of 2023.

This is the time of year when we begin our budget process for the next fiscal year. The Superintendent's Recommended Budget will be presented to the School Committee on

January 12; a Public Hearing will be held by the School Committee on January 19, and the School Committee budget adoption vote will occur on February 2, 2023.   I encourage you to follow the budget process by attending School Committee meetings or watching the meetings on local cable channels (Comcast 99 or Verizon 28).  Videos of School Committee meetings are also available to stream from the North Andover Cam website.  Budget documents will be available on the district website and will be linked to School Committee agendas.  You can sign up to receive School Committee agendas via email by subscribing on the Town Website.

For those of you with children who will be five years of age on or before August 31, 2023, our online kindergarten pre-registration for the 2023/24 school year will begin in March when complete information regarding the kindergarten registration process will be posted on the Anne Bradstreet Early Childhood Center (ABECC) webpage.

Thank you for the continued support of our schools and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year.

Details of the Next Generation 9-1-1 system were sent to MA School Superintendents by the State's Executive Office of Public Safety and Security in an effort to educate middle school and high school students and staff about the two new lifesaving features of this system. The first is "Text-to-911" which allows a person that is unable to speak or hear to communicate via text with a 911 dispatcher. The second is the "Silent Call Procedure" which allows a person that is unable to speak to call 911, and when the call is answered by the

dispatcher, to press the following digits on their phone:  1 for the police department, 2 for the fire department, and 3 for an ambulance or medical services. This way the dispatcher can send help immediately. These two features of the 911 system are valuable and can provide the ability to save a life when used. Please share these new features with family and friends.

On Saturday, November 19, North Andover High School hosted the 2022 MMEA Northeast District performing group auditions. Throughout the day over 800 students auditioned for a spot in one of the many district ensembles which include Concert Band, Orchestra, Choir, and Jazz Ensemble. We were very fortunate to have 16 North Andover students audition. Twelve of our students were selected for either the Choir, Concert Band, or Orchestra, and seven of the students received a high enough score to make them eligible to audition for the All-State Ensembles in January. The following students from North Andover were selected: 

Choir:

Laurel Ballantyre Chorus Alto 

Cole Brimmer Chorus Bass All-State Recommendation

Andrew Buchanan Chorus Tenor All-State Recommendation

Elizabeth Coon Chorus Soprano All-State Recommendation

Annakiya Marshall Chorus   Alto All-State Recommendation

Joshua Rosa Chorus Tenor

Henry Wright Chorus Bass All-State Recommendation 

Band:

Michael Faucher Concert Band Baritone Saxophone

Keenan Gosselin Concert Band Trumpet

Ian Lee Orchestra Oboe All-State Recommendation

Owen Raizin Concert Band Trumpet

Luke Ralph Orchestra Trumpet All-State Recommendation

The students will be participating in rehearsals on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, Friday, January 6, 2023, and Saturday, January 7, 2023, with a concert that afternoon. All of the rehearsals and performances will take place at the New England Conservatory. 

In accordance with Massachusetts Special Education legislation, the North Andover Public School District is making every effort to locate, identify, and evaluate children with special needs who may have a disability and may be entitled to specialized educational services.  Regardless of the severity of the disability, it is the North Andover Public School District’s responsibility to determine if the child is eligible for special education or related services under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) or 306 CMR 28 (Massachusetts Special Education Regulations).  Referrals may come from a parent, physician, preschool program, or early intervention services.  The age limits include three-year-olds (preschool) through twenty-one-year-olds up to the twenty-second birthday.  

If you are a parent or agency that comes into contact with a child who you suspect may have educationally disabling conditions and is not currently being serviced under the auspices of the North Andover Public School District, we would appreciate your notifying or referring the parent(s) and/or individuals to the Department of Special Education. 

All inquiries or referrals should be sent to Marci Boccuzzi, Executive Director of Special Education, 566 Main Street, North Andover, MA 01845. 

We were busy last month with virtual programs; did you miss any? You can now watch them on our YouTube page!  Visit our events calendar for a complete list of programs. On 

December 15 is an Introduction to Hanukkah and December 19 is The Fascinating Stories 

Behind Our Favorite Christmas Traditions.  Find out more on www.StevensMemLib.org, Facebook, and Twitter @StevensMemLib, or sign up for Stevens Memorial Library News on our website or via the Town News: https://www.northandoverma.gov/home/pages/connect-us.

Did you know we have book groups for all ages? Check out our calendar to find a book group that’s right for you; from Beginning Chapter Books to Graphic Novels, there is something for everyone! Children and Teens can participate in our December reading challenge and win prizes; sign up in the Children’s Room. Starting in January, everyone can participate in the Massachusetts Center for the Book 2023 Reading Challenge! Sign up on their website and watch our Facebook page for reading recommendations that fit each month’s theme.

What to read next?

Make sure to stop by the library to pick up books for your holiday travels or for winter break! We have several book displays in the building including a new Historical Fiction display in the Teen Room. You can also browse our digital book displays. Or try our Reader Request form for personalized book recommendations, for all ages. Indicate your preferred format: print and audiobooks, e-books, and e-audiobooks. You should receive a follow-up within 2 days and provide you with at least three titles.

Let us help!

If you don’t find an answer to your question, email or call the Library so we can help. Staff will respond when available.

Email: SmlRefServices@NorthAndoverMA.gov. Phone: 978-688-9505 - 

for Children’s ext. 42010, Teens ext. 42032, Reference Desk ext. 42016.

Have a library card question or a problem? Call 978-688-9505 ext. 42017, or email Stevens-Circulation@NorthAndoverMA.gov.

The Library’s hours are Monday through Thursday 10 am – 9 pm; Friday 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday 10 am – 5 pm; Sunday 1-5 pm.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE CORNER

by Pam Pietrowski, Chair

Greetings from the NA School Committee,

This school year certainly is flying by.  I hope that it is going well for all our school community members.  I would like to wish all our community members a happy and healthy holiday season.  

Below are some updates from the school committee:

• The North Andover Teachers’ Association and Professional Teaching Assistants have requested to bargain, and the process for bargaining has started.  One thing that is truly special about North Andover Public School is the positive relationship between the administration and unions.  We look forward to continuing that healthy relationship during this bargaining season.

• I want to take a moment to review communication best practices so that our community members don’t have to try and rely on Social Media. School Committee members are discouraged from commenting on social media to avoid violating the open-meeting law.  

• The easiest thing to remember is to start with your child’s teacher for questions pertaining to the classroom or other school-related topics. 

• After the new year, the school committee will get started with community chats.  Be on the lookout for more information about this.  

• On December 14 the school committee will take part in the Tri-Board meeting at the Senior Center at 7:00.  

Wishing everyone a safe and healthy holiday season.

Warmly,

Pam Pietrowski M.Ed.

North Andover School Committee Chair